Views sought on changes to civil marriage fees

Public views are being sought on proposed changes to the fees structure for civil marriages hosted by Aberdeenshire’s registration service.

The team is proud to have established an excellent reputation for providing a high quality, flexible and modern civil marriage service.

Each year, registrars delight in marrying hundreds of couples in ceremonies that celebrate their love and life-long commitment to one another. Although every occasion is unique, registrars always ensure that a dignified, sincere and heartfelt commitment between two people stands at the heart every ceremony.

The fees for ceremonies have not changed since 2003, however, and the aim is to bring them in line with national averages.

Currently, Aberdeenshire’s charges for civil ceremonies are amongst the lowest in Scotland, and are significantly lower than those advertised by other non-religious celebrant groups.

The proposed fees will remain less than most other local authorities and also less than other non-religious celebrants.

Head of Legal and Governance Karen Wiles said

It’s important that we have a fees structure that allows us to continue to provide a high quality service for couples wishing to marry in Aberdeenshire.

The new structure has been designed to allow the service to cover its costs, while remaining below the Scottish average, and we want to hear what people think of the new approach and whether there are any questions about how it will be applied.

For those who have already made provisional bookings for 2017, a grace period of up to one month is proposed from the point the new fee structure is put in place, during which balances can be paid at current prices.